Kathmandu: The Forbidden Valley

At the heart of the mighty Himalayas lies the Kathmandu Valley, a place so remote and so carefully protected that it was little known to the outside world until the 1950s. For centuries, strange stories had filtered down from the hills – tales of virgin goddesses and bloody animal sacrifices, rumours of skilled craftsmen and dazzling monarchs who rode on the backs of elephants. Yet curiosity seekers were kept at bay by the rugged terrain and by fierce warriors who carried razor-sharp swords. Not even the British, who managed to subdue the rest of the subcontinent, could lift more than an edge on the veil of secrecy that enshrouded the valley. It wasn’t until three decades ago that the mysteries of the valley began to unravel and the outside world discovered that – lo and behold – all those fantastic rumours were true! Nowadays, despite modernisation and millions of international visitors each year, time seems to stand still in the Kathmandu Valley. This is no more evident than in the pages of this book, a vivid account of contemporary life in the Nepalese heartland. The book traces the unique religious and architectural traditions of the region, dips into the area’s colourful history and flamboyant rulers, explores the lively heritage of art and culture, and glimpses the everyday life of the people through their work and worship.

Published 1990, First edition

Binding of book is intact. Front cover is clean of foxing with crease(s) and fraying of edges. Back cover is clean of foxing with crease(s) and fraying of edges. Tear at top of spine with some fading. Slight foxing on endpapers. Slight foxing on some pages. Clean of annotations across pages.

Condition: Well Read